Adelaide City Council staff ordered to prepare report on sexual harassment over the past decade

A report is being prepared on sexual harassment and assault at Adelaide City Council, with one councillor saying it is “pure fantasy” to think it doesn’t exist.

Adelaide City Council staff have been ordered to compile a report into cases of sexual harassment or sexual assault over the past decade.

Public servant Greg Mackie has received unanimous support to call for management to provide details on “any allegations of sexual harassment, assault or discriminatory behaviour” involving the council since 2011.

He said the recent events which have revealed a “toxic culture” within federal and state politics prompted the call.

Recent events include an inquiry commissioned by South Australia’s Attorney-General Vickie Chapman which uncovered serious allegations of indecent exposure, physical assault and sexually suggestive comments from SA MPs and parliamentary staff.

It also comes after ex-Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins started a national conversation about assault and harrassment in the workplace after she alleged she was raped at Parliament House.

Since her interview, a fourth former Liberal staffer has accused the man who Brittany Higgins said assaulted her of making unwelcome advances in a bar.

The Attorney-General has also been accused of raping a 16-year old in 1988, an allegation he emphatically denies.

The alleged victim took her own life in Adelaide in 2020, a day after informing police she no longer wanted to pursue the complaint.

Cr Mackie added the involvement of elected members to employees, volunteers and contractors in any allegations at the request of the leader of the council’s dominant Team Adelaide faction, Alexander Hyde.

Team Adelaide leader Alexander Hyde addressed Tuesday night’s council meeting at Adelaide Town Hall. Picture: Colin James

Cr Mackie is seeking details of how many allegations there have been at City Council, whether they were investigated internally or externally and what action was taken by administration against perpetrators.

He has also asked for copies of the council’s policies and details of training programs for dealing with sexual harassment,

The History Trust of SA chief executive said the motion was not prompted by any particular case or incident but recent events which have revealed a “toxic culture” within federal and state politics.

Cr Mackie said elected members had a duty of care to provide a safe workplace for council employees.

“I recognise, of course, that we delegate employment matters to the chief executive but that doesn’t abrogate our duty of care to our employees,” he said.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor and acting chief executiver Clare Mockler at Adelaide City Council’s meeting on Tuesday night. Picture: Colin James

Cr Mackie said “many, many workplaces” were “attempting to address changes in community standards” involving sexual harassment or abuse.

“I believe that, as the capital city council, it is beholden on us to model the same kind of standard within our own organisation,” he said.

Cr Mackie said it was “not about naming names” but ensuring processes were in place to provide support to council employees.

Long-serving councillor Anne Moran said there had been problems with sexual harassment on council “over the years”.

Cr Moran said various chief executives had told her they had spent “a lot of their time dealing with these matters”.

“To suggest we are digging into something which doesn’t exist is just pure fantasy,” she said.

Tuesday night’s Adelaide City Council meeting at Adelaide Town Hall. Picture: Colin James

Cr Moran said her recollection was that matters involving sexual harassment had been “dealt with speedily and effectively”.

“But the administration would probably know better than I would,” she said.

“It is certainly not a problem that we are an orphan to.”

Cr Moran said it was important the council “shone the disinfectant of sunlight” on how it handled sexual harassment complaints.

“With our large number of employees, especially the large number of female employees, I think it is very important we really catch up with the times and make sure our employees are safe,” she said.

Adelaide City councillor Greg Mackie.

Long serving Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran.

“I thought we had solved these problems but clearly the things that have come from the federal and state parliaments have shown that, really, in my lifetime nothing much has changed.”
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the report would review policies and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment complaints.

My experience is that anything along these lines is dealt with and all the policies are in place, all the support systems are in place,” she said.

Acting chief executive Clare Mockler said it would take at least one month to compile the report as staff needed to go through hard copy and computer records.